Rupert Boneham
Encyclopedia
Rupert Boneham is an American
mentor for troubled teens who became known to reality television
audiences in 2003 as a contestant on Survivor: Pearl Islands
where he placed 8th. He later appeared on the All Stars
and Heroes vs. Villains seasons of Survivor
, placing 4th and 6th respectively. He was ultimately a fan favorite among Survivor viewers, who voted him the million dollar winner on Survivor: America's Tribal Council
, a special episode of Survivor: All-Stars. The prize was awarded after a nationwide popular vote in which Boneham received 85% of the votes cast.
Boneham was a preselected member of the Drake tribe, before his arrival on the island for Survivor: Pearl Islands
. For the first three episodes he was part of an alliance with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Christa Hastie, and Trish Dunn. In episode four, Boneham's tribe lost immunity, but he was kidnapped by the Morgan tribe and did not attend tribal council. In episode 6, Drake lost their third immunity challenge, and Dunn conspired with Jon Dalton, Diaz-Twine and Shawn Cohen to vote out Rupert, but Boneham was saved by Sandra and Shawn, sending Dunn home instead. After the next tribal council when Cohen was voted out, Burton Roberts from Drake and Lillian Morris from Morgan returned to the game, and both joined the Drake alliance at the merge. After two Morgan members had been eliminated, Dalton, Roberts and Morris sided with Darrah Johnson and Tijuana Bradley from the Morgan tribe and successfully voted Rupert out. On Day 27, Boneham became the tenth contestant voted out of the competition by his tribe mates in a vote of 5-2-1, he became the second member of the jury. On Day 39, Boneham cast his jury vote for Sandra Diaz-Twine who won the season.
, Tom Buchanan, and Rob Mariano
. Boneham won the million dollars, receiving 85% of the 38 million votes cast. He spent his prize money on his family's debts, a college fund for his daughter, a new house for his family, and the creation of his charity, Rupert's Kids, which mentors troubled children.
Since All-Stars ended, he has appeared in national promos for Survivor: Vanuatu
. Boneham also made an appearance in the third season
of the Israel
i version of Survivor in September 2009 as a part of a reward in a reward challenge.
and Hardee's
. In 2004 he appeared as a stable hand named Paul in "The Big My Little Pony Episode", the third season premiere of the TV series Half & Half
. In 2006, he appeared in the independent movie Open Mic'rs
. He also made a cameo appearance as a homeless man in "The Radford Reshuffle", the sixth season premiere of the show Yes, Dear
.
After being awarded one million dollars on Survivor: America's Tribal Council
, Boneham used a large percentage of his winnings to establish Ruperts Kids, to help "at-risk teens". The organization joined with the City of Indianapolis to create the Park Adoption Program.
. He wrote on his official website, “I have spent my entire adult life serving my community and I see an opportunity to make a difference for Indiana,” wrote Boneham, referencing his troubled-youth charity, Rupert’s Kids. “While surveying the current choices for our next Governor, I do not see anyone that has an understanding of what daily life is like for many Hoosiers nor anyone who appears to understand the harm that misguided government policies are doing to our communities. It is obvious that career politicians are not the answer because they are often the problem. I will be evaluating whether or not hardworking Hoosiers are ready for a new voice with new ideas." Boneham launched his campaign on October 22, declaring that he would seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mentor for troubled teens who became known to reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
audiences in 2003 as a contestant on Survivor: Pearl Islands
Survivor: Pearl Islands
Survivor: Pearl Islands is the seventh season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on September 18, 2003....
where he placed 8th. He later appeared on the All Stars
Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars is the eighth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on February 1, 2004 after Super Bowl XXXVIII. It was set on the Pearl Islands of Panama, where the previous Survivor: Pearl Islands had just finished...
and Heroes vs. Villains seasons of Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
, placing 4th and 6th respectively. He was ultimately a fan favorite among Survivor viewers, who voted him the million dollar winner on Survivor: America's Tribal Council
Survivor: America's Tribal Council
Survivor: America's Tribal Council was a special edition of the TV show Survivor: All-Stars, which followed the Survivor: All-Stars finale in which Amber Brkich won the million dollar prize...
, a special episode of Survivor: All-Stars. The prize was awarded after a nationwide popular vote in which Boneham received 85% of the votes cast.
Pearl Islands
During Survivor: Pearl Islands, Boneham quickly became one of the most popular Survivor contestants, and was well-known as a "gentle giant", for his distinctive appearance, which included a huge beard, tie-dye shirt and large size, as well as a boisterous, friendly-but-focused personality.Boneham was a preselected member of the Drake tribe, before his arrival on the island for Survivor: Pearl Islands
Survivor: Pearl Islands
Survivor: Pearl Islands is the seventh season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on September 18, 2003....
. For the first three episodes he was part of an alliance with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Christa Hastie, and Trish Dunn. In episode four, Boneham's tribe lost immunity, but he was kidnapped by the Morgan tribe and did not attend tribal council. In episode 6, Drake lost their third immunity challenge, and Dunn conspired with Jon Dalton, Diaz-Twine and Shawn Cohen to vote out Rupert, but Boneham was saved by Sandra and Shawn, sending Dunn home instead. After the next tribal council when Cohen was voted out, Burton Roberts from Drake and Lillian Morris from Morgan returned to the game, and both joined the Drake alliance at the merge. After two Morgan members had been eliminated, Dalton, Roberts and Morris sided with Darrah Johnson and Tijuana Bradley from the Morgan tribe and successfully voted Rupert out. On Day 27, Boneham became the tenth contestant voted out of the competition by his tribe mates in a vote of 5-2-1, he became the second member of the jury. On Day 39, Boneham cast his jury vote for Sandra Diaz-Twine who won the season.
All Stars
Less than a month after Boneham returned home from the competition, he returned to compete In the All-Stars season, the only player from Pearl Islands to do so. Boneham went on to finish fourth, being voted out in episode 15. After All-Stars ended a special aired called Survivor: America's Tribal Council, in which viewers were given the opportunity in a contest called "America Votes", to select one of the eighteen contestants to win one million dollars. The finalists were Boneham, Colby DonaldsonColby Donaldson
Colby Donaldson is an American television actor, best known as the runner-up on Survivor: The Australian Outback and as the host for the show Top Shot.-Personal life:...
, Tom Buchanan, and Rob Mariano
Rob Mariano
Robert Carlo "Boston Rob" Mariano is an American television personality, widely known for appearing in several reality shows, including Survivor, and The Amazing Race with his wife, Amber Brkich Mariano. Mariano won Survivor: Redemption Island and the $1,000,000 prize after competing on the show...
. Boneham won the million dollars, receiving 85% of the 38 million votes cast. He spent his prize money on his family's debts, a college fund for his daughter, a new house for his family, and the creation of his charity, Rupert's Kids, which mentors troubled children.
Since All-Stars ended, he has appeared in national promos for Survivor: Vanuatu
Survivor: Vanuatu
Survivor: Vanuatu — Islands of Fire, also known as Survivor: Vanuatu, is the ninth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor...
. Boneham also made an appearance in the third season
Survivor 10: Philippine Islands
Survivor 10: Philippine Islands is the third season of the Israeli version of the Reality TV show Survivor, shot during March and April 2009, in the Philippines. It has started airing Fall 2009 on Channel 10...
of the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i version of Survivor in September 2009 as a part of a reward in a reward challenge.
Heroes vs. Villains
Boneham returned to participate in the Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains as part of the Heroes team. He was voted out on Day 36 by a vote of 4-0.Other appearances
Shortly after his Survivor appearances, Boneham briefly appeared at charity events sponsored by the Indiana IceIndiana Ice
The Indiana Ice is a Tier I ice hockey team formed in 2004 when it was purchased from the former Danville, Illinois, USA, team, the Danville Wings. It plays the majority of its home games at the Pepsi Coliseum, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of its home...
and Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
. In 2004 he appeared as a stable hand named Paul in "The Big My Little Pony Episode", the third season premiere of the TV series Half & Half
Half & Half
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
. In 2006, he appeared in the independent movie Open Mic'rs
Open Mic'rs
Open Mic'rs the movie was filmed in Indiana in 2005. Gary Wood was the producer and director. Actors in the movie include Rupert Boneham, Cindy Morgan, David Prowse and Landon Lueck....
. He also made a cameo appearance as a homeless man in "The Radford Reshuffle", the sixth season premiere of the show Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
.
Rupert's Kids
In 1983, before appearing on Survivor, Boneham worked with mentally handicapped children in Abilene, Texas. He then moved to Indiana to work with troubled young adults. In 1991, he purchased an abandoned house and converted it into a vocational training center for young adults who had been expelled from school.After being awarded one million dollars on Survivor: America's Tribal Council
Survivor: America's Tribal Council
Survivor: America's Tribal Council was a special edition of the TV show Survivor: All-Stars, which followed the Survivor: All-Stars finale in which Amber Brkich won the million dollar prize...
, Boneham used a large percentage of his winnings to establish Ruperts Kids, to help "at-risk teens". The organization joined with the City of Indianapolis to create the Park Adoption Program.
Politics
On August 30, 2011, Boneham announced that he would consider running for Governor of IndianaGovernor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
. He wrote on his official website, “I have spent my entire adult life serving my community and I see an opportunity to make a difference for Indiana,” wrote Boneham, referencing his troubled-youth charity, Rupert’s Kids. “While surveying the current choices for our next Governor, I do not see anyone that has an understanding of what daily life is like for many Hoosiers nor anyone who appears to understand the harm that misguided government policies are doing to our communities. It is obvious that career politicians are not the answer because they are often the problem. I will be evaluating whether or not hardworking Hoosiers are ready for a new voice with new ideas." Boneham launched his campaign on October 22, declaring that he would seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
.
External links
- Rupert's Kids
- "‘Survivor’ contestant wins approval for casino game" Vegas Inc. 24 June 2011